The Impact of Students' Attitude Towards English Language On Academic Achievement

International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)
International Open Access Journal | www.ijtsrd.com
ISSN No: 2456 - 6470 | Volume - 3 | Issue – 1 | Nov – Dec 2018
The Impact of Students’ Attitude Towards English Language on

Academic Achievement
Clark R. Colaste
Secondary School Teacher I
Felisberto Verano National High School, Tandag, Philippines
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the impact of students’ that they dislike English as a subject because they find
attitude towards english language on academic it difficult to express themselves using language as a
achievement. This study used Universal sampling medium of communication. Moreover, on the
because it considered the two classes of the grade 9 statement “I have heard of the phrase Filipino-
students of Felisberto Verano National High School. English” got the lowest in rank which means they
One class is composed of 43 learners and the other were unaware or they do not have an idea of a
class comprised of 45 students a total of Eighty eight Filipino-English phrase.
(88) students as the chosen respondents of this study.
As to their level of anxiety, it was revealed that most
The descriptive quantitative method of research was of the students have difficulty when the teacher gives
used to determine the impact of English language a speaking activity requiring mental adeptness such as
anxiety on the students’ academic achievement. A debate. Moreover, they also display hesitation when
Likert-scale was used to measure the anxiety level of speaking before a crowd because of their fear of being
English language classroom activity and the attitude corrected in front of everybody.
of grade 9 students toward English; the scale was
rated using the following options: Strongly Disagree- On the significant relationship between the
1, Disagree-2, Undecided-3, Agree-4, Strongly Agree- respondents’ MPS and the attitude towards English,
5, 1-Very Relaxed, 2-Moderately Relaxed, 3-Anxious, the way that students think and behave towards
4-Moderately Anxious, 5-Very Anxious. English language whether positive or negative is
highly correlated to their academic performance. On
The statistical tools used in analyzing the data of this the significant relationship between respondents MPS
study were weighted mean and Pearson Product and level of anxiety, it failed to reject the null
Moment of Correlation (Pearson-r). The weighted hypothesis; therefore there is no significant
mean was used to determine the attitude and anxiety relationship between anxiety level on their academic
of grade 9 students towards English language performance. Having failed to reject the null
classroom activities using the MPS of the respondents hypotheses on the significant relationship between the
for the second grading of AY 2017-2018 as data. respondents’ MPS and level of anxiety and between
Pearson Product Moment Correlation (Pearson-r) was the students’ attitude and level of anxiety, it can be
used to determine the significant relationships further inferred that there are no significant
between the respondents’ MPS and Attitude towards relationships between the tested variables.
English Language, MPS and Level of Anxiety
towards English Class Activities, and the significant Based on the findings of the study, there is a need to
relationship between attitude and the level of anxiety. come up with speaking strategies to provide an
avenue where students can be most apprehensive.
The findings revealed that the grade 9 students who However, because the macro skills are
participated in this study generally have the negative complementary, other skills also need to be addressed.
attitude towards English as a subject. They revealed
@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 3 | Issue – 1 | Nov-Dec 2018 Page: 330
International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
Keywords: Attitude, Language Anxiety expression in class interaction. Hence activities to
diminish, if not eradicate, anxiety will be proposed to
INTRODUCTION: make the teaching and learning process meaningful
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING and productive especially in learning the English
Learning English as a second language is a long and language.
challenging process for learners. Students’ success
and academic achievement in learning this new Theoretical/ Conceptual framework
language depend on many internal and external This study claims that situational factors result to
factors. The quality of language education, teacher, anxiety which in turn affects classroom performance.
and curriculum can be considered as some of the This study is anchored on Krashen’s Affective filter
external factors in language learning. Internal factors theory which provides that language anxiety affects
such as attitude, anxiety and self-confidence exert a students’ performance. The theory puts emphasis on
distinctive influence on students’ individual success at the idea that it was anxiety which inhabited that
their English language courses; therefore, it is learners’ ability to process incoming language and
important to reveal these internal factors (Zefran, impeding the processing of acquisition. Thus, if
2015). This study claims that students face factors that anxiety impaired the cognitive, students who were
impede performance in the classroom. These anxious learned less and were not able to demonstrate
experiences are oftentimes contributing to their what they learned. Therefore, they experienced even
anxiety in the class. more failure, which in turn escalated anxiety (Hipster,
2009).
Attitude is characterized by a large proportion of
emotional involvement such as feelings, self, and In the Affective Filter hypothesis, Krashen as cited by
relationships in the community. Learning could not Schutz (2007), explained motivation, self-confidence,
come about easily unless students have positive and anxiety all affect language acquisition, in effect
attitudes toward it on one hand, and attitudes might raising or lowering the stickiness or penetration of any
originate from life experiences, on the other hand. As comprehensible input that is received. In addition,
such, since attitude can influence success or failure in Krogh (2011) laid down that one of the five key
learning it plays a very crucial role. Ajzen (2005) hypothesis of second language acquisition that
believes that like any personality trait, attitude is a Krashen discusses is the “Affective Filter Theory.” In
directly unobserved hypothetical construct and must this hypothesis, Krashen shows that motivation, self-
be inferred from measurable responses which reflect confidence, and anxiety all play a prominent role in
and evaluate positive or negative attitudes as cited by language acquisition. These factors become crucial in
Dehbozorgi (2012). the process of language acquisition, either heightening
or inferring with a student’s ability to progress.
Ohat (2005) cites that English Language anxiety is a
type of anxiety specifically associated with learning Krashen articulates that students who are highly
the second language (L2), and it can arise from many motivated, have a strong sense of self, and enter a
kinds of sources. In the locale, students display learning situation with low level of anxiety are much
apprehension when asked to participate orally in class likely to be successful language acquirers than those
as observed by most teachers most especially when who do not.
the medium of instruction used is English. In
consonance, research shows that language anxiety Furthermore, when the affective filter blocks
impedes successful language learning among second comprehensible input, acquisition fails or occurs to a
and foreign language learners, In the study conducted lesser extent then when affective filter supports the
by Lucas, & Miraflores (2011), it was found out that intake of comprehensible input. The affective filter,
learners are challenged with many situational factors, therefore, accounts for individual’s variation in
anxiety may arise and as a result, their performance is second language acquisition. Second language
hampered. instruction can and should work to minimize the
effects of the affective filter.
This study endeavors to address the issues on
students’ attitude and anxiety faced by the junior high In addition, this study is supported by Horwitz and his
school students when using English as a medium of colleagues (1986) who articulated that language
anxiety as distinct complex of self-perceptions, as inability to pay attention and concentrate,
beliefs, feelings, and behaviors related to classroom awareness of bodily sensations and tension, and so on,
learning arising from the uniqueness of the langauge leads to academic failure in the long run (Sena, Lowe,
learning process. They also found that foreign and Lee, 2007). There is no denying that one of the
language anxiety can be related to the following: a) factors related to low academic performance and
communication apprehension (the fear of achievement is test anxiety, and some studies
communicating with other people), b) test anxiety mentioned that test anxiety is highly prevalent among
(fear of exams, quizzes, and other activities used to students. For example, a research finding revealed
evaluate one’s competence), and c) fear of negative that there is a significant difference of academic
evaluation (worry about how others view the speaker). achievement among three levels of test anxiety.
Students with low test anxiety had higher academic
Communication apprehension is characterized by fear achievement than students with moderate and higher
and anxiety in communicating with people. Difficulty test anxiety. Similarly, students with moderate test
in speaking in public, listening or learning a spoken anxiety had higher academic achievement than
utterance are all manifestations of communication students with higher test anxiety (Chapell, Blanding,
apprehension. This type of anxiety in learning a and Silverstein, 2005). Aside from that, Sansigiry and
second language is derived from the learners’ Sail (2006) noted that test anxiety causes irrelevant
personal knowledge that they will have difficulty thoughts, decreased attention and concentration, thus
understanding others and making themselves leads to academic failure. Also, it is linked to memory
understood. and has a negative impact on academic performance.
Test anxiety is a type of performance anxiety which is Fear of negative evaluation is the apprehension about
caused by fear of failing a test. Test anxious students other people’s evaluations. This may also include
often put unrealistic demands on themselves; it is avoidance of evaluative situations and the
considered to be one of the most important aspects of expectations that others might evaluate them
negative motivation which will affect learning. This negatively. It may also include the student’s fear
type of fear is defined as an unpleasant feeling or inside the English classroom where factors such as
emotional state that has both physiological and learning activities, teacher’s methodology and even
behavioral concomitants and that is experienced an peer pressure may contribute to novice language
anxious learner when taking formal test or other learners’ anxieties.
evaluative situations.
As shown in figure 1. The first box below represents
Furthermore, test anxiety has been defined as the the dependent variables which include the attitude
reaction to stimuli that are associated with an towards English language and the level of anxiety
individual’s experience of testing or evaluating towards the use of English in class. The second box
situations. Stober (2004) mentioned that there are two indicates the MPS of the grade 9 learners in the
main components of test anxiety: worry and second grading period. This indicator is included to
emotional status. Worry refers to concerns about evaluate whether anxiety has affected how these
being evaluated and the results of exam failure; and students academically performed. The speaking
secondly, emotion refers to the perceptions and strategies will be the output of the study, as shown in
reactions evoked by the test situation. In general, test the third box.
anxiety includes a number of different symptoms such
Figure1. Schematic Diagram of the Study
Statement of the Problem School of Cortes I District. There were 88
This study aimed to know the english language respondents of this study who supplied data on
anxiety among Grade-9 students of Felisberto Verano questionnaire during the AY 2017-2018.
National High School students of Cortes I District.
This topic is relevant to the issues currently existing
Specifically, it sought to answer the following in today’s generation, specifically to foster the
questions: English students of FVNHS.
1. What is the attitude of Grade 9 students of
Felisberto Verano National High School towards Significance of the Study
English Language class activities? This study may have some implications on English
2. What is the level of English Language Anxiety Language teaching as a solution to the problem of
prevalent among Grade 9 students of Felisberto access and the quest towards quality education. A
Verano National High School? research therefore relative to its implication and or its
3. What is the MPS of Grade-9 students of Felisberto outcomes is very significant to various groups.
Verano National High School Students in the
second grading? Administrators The result of the study will give
4. Is there a significant relationship between the administrators to have Technical Assistance to the
respondents’ MPS and their attitude towards teachers who are in need and probably provide what
English class activities? they needs. It will also give awareness to those
5. Is there a significant relationship between the concerned in the governing of the institution of how
respondents’ MPS and their level of anxiety they can propose and facilitate indoor progress that
towards the English language class? can be used by the teachers in inviting meaningful and
6. Is there a significant relationship between the engaging interest of the students in the class
atittude of Grade 9 students of Felisberto Verano discussion.
National High School and their level of anxiety
towards English Language based on the findings Teachers This is a big help for the teachers in
and the study? choosing strategies and activities in teaching English
7. What strategies can be suggested to improve the subjects that is engaging and remembering so that
academic achievement of the Grade 9 students of students would participate.
Felisberto Verano National High School?
Future researchers The study is profitable for the
Hypotheses: future researchers that they would be guided and
Hypothesis 1: There is no significant relationship inspired to develop another related study and explore
between the respondents’ MPS and the limitless scope of other authentic strategies for
their attitude towards English language new and anticipated pedagogies of English and would
class activities. not be stuck in an orthodox way of teaching English
Hypothesis 2: There is no significant relationship subjects.
between the MPS and level of anxiety
towards the English language class. Definition of Terms
Hypothesis 3: There is no significant relationship To provide a clear understanding, the following terms
between the attitude of the respondents are operationally defined in this study:
towards the English language class
interaction and their level of anxiety. Academic Achievement As used in the study, it
refers to the level of learning in a particular area
Scope and Delimitation of the Study subject in terms of knowledge, understanding, skill
This study focused on the students’ attitude towards and application usually evaluated by teachers in the
English language on academic achievement among form of test scores and performance tasks in their
FVNHS Grade-9 students of Cortes I District, annual examination.
Poblacion, Cortes, Surigao del Sur.
Anxiety As used in the study, this refers to the
The respondents of the study included the junior high positive or negative feelings manifested by the
school students of Felisberto Verano National High students towards English language.
@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 6 | Sep-Oct 2018 Page: 333
Attitudes As used in the study, it is the students’ the new knowledge in many situations (Eshghinejad,
positive and negative attitude towards English 2016).
language.
With respect to the emotional attitude, Feng and Chen
Language Anxiety As used in the study, this is the (2009) stated that learning process is an emotional
feeling of apprehension developed by the students process; it is affected by different emotional factors.
when they are asked to do certain activities in their The teacher and his students engage in various
English class; it develops in them a fear of emotional activities in it and varied results of
participation that comes from certain reasons such as emotions are yield.
fear of committing mistakes, being corrected before a
crowd, and etc. Different people have defined differently the concept
of attitude. To begin with, Anold (2005) as cited by
MPS As used in the study, it is the total weighted Nyamubi (2016) defines attitude as either mental
mean in every grading period. It indicates the ratio readiness or implicit predispositions that exert some
between the number of correctly answered items in a general or consistent influence on a fairly large class
test and the total number of items. of evaluative responses, which are usually directed
towards some objects, events or persons. On the other
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND hand, Ewen (2003) as cited by Nyamubi (2016)
STUDIES defines attitude as a mental and neural state of
This section contains the review of related literature readiness organised through experience, exerting a
and studies in the country and abroad which have directive or dynamic influence upon the individual’s
direct bearing with the present study. response to all objects and situations with which it is
related.
Related Literatures
Foreign The common characteristic in these definitions is that
In his great work Principles of Language Learning attitudes entail evaluative predispositions to respond
and Teaching, Brown (1994) as cited by Eshghinejad to social objects that interact with situational
(2016) discussed that attitude concept can be viewed variables, thus guiding and directing the overt
from three dimensions regarding aspects of it. Each behaviour of an individual. The working definitions
one of these dimensions has different features to bring preferred in this study are Ajzen’s (2001) as cited by
out language attitude results, behavioral, cognitive, Nyamubi (2016), who defines attitude as a disposition
and affective. These three attitudinal aspects are based to respond favourably or unfavourably to an object,
on the three theoretical approaches of behaviorism, person or event, and Armitage and Conner’s (2001),
cognitivism, and humanism, respectively. who see that the role of attitudes is to help locate
objects of thought, such as language, as being an
The behavioral aspect of attitude (BAA) deals with object that is perceived to be favourable or
the way one behaves and reacts in particular unfavourable. These definitions are preferred because
situations. Kara (2009) stated that positive attitude they link attitudes to measurement, that is, whether
leads to the exhibition of positive behavior toward they are favourable or unfavourable in relation to an
studying, absorbing themselves in it, and striving to object, person or event.
learn more. Such students are also observed to show
more enthusiasm to solve problems, to acquire what is In this way, if an attitude of a person to an object such
useful for daily life, and to engage themselves as language is known, it can be used in conjunction
emotionally. with situations and it can explain a person’s reaction
to it. A survey of attitudes provides an indicator of
Cognitive aspect of attitude (CAA) involves the current community thoughts, beliefs, preferences and
beliefs of the language learners about the knowledge desires (Garrett, 2010). Attitudes are feelings of
that they receive and their understanding of the approval and disapproval to learn a language; it is
process of language learning. The cognitive attitude comprised of beliefs about things that have some
could be classified into four steps of connecting the social significance. Such beliefs, for example, can be
previous knowledge and the new one, creating new values that are attached to English by many
knowledge, checking new knowledge, and applying Tanzanians that knowing the language is synonymous
to being educated (Mapunda, 2013). It also provides schools (Cassady, 2010). MacIntyre and Gardner
social indicators of changing beliefs and the chance of (1991) as cited by Subaşı (2010) defined language
success in language policy implementation. anxiety as the feeling of tension and apprehension
specifically associated with second language texts,
In education, attitudes could be both an input and an including speaking, listening, and learning.
output. A favourable attitude to language learning
may be a vital input in language achievement. Baker Learning an English language is challenging since it
(1992) as cited by Nyamubi (2016) found the requires much time and effort, and is not always an
following: first, attitudes have a positive correlation easy and pleasant activity even for a language
with success in learning a second language; and enthusiast (Lam, 2009). The problem of anxiety is one
second, they facilitate learners’ motivation to learn the of the affective factors that exist among Yemeni EFL
language in relation to goal attainment. Attitudes can students even those who have gained an advanced
also be an outcome. After a language-learning course, level of proficiency (Ezzi, 2012). Students experience
the teacher and learners may have favourable attitudes anxiety not only inside the classroom but also outside
to the language learnt, if they expect to benefit from the classroom especially when they use the language
it. In this way, learners will strive to achieve highly in in real communicative situations (Tanveer, 2007).
the expectation of doing well in examinations and
mastering the language, which in turn facilitates better Anxiety is defined by Horwitz (1986) in Nefti (2013)
performance. is perceived intuitively by many language learners,
negatively influences language learning and has been
Gardner (1985) In Nyamubi (2016) argued that found to be one of the most highly examined variables
second language learners with positive attitudes in all psychology and education. Also he defined
towards the target language learn more effectively anxiety as a a feeling of tension, apprehension and
than those who do not have such positive attitudes. He nervousness associated with the situation of learning a
explains that learners’ language attitudes predict foreign language. A similar definition was provided
students’ degree of success in terms of linguistic by Scovel in Algeria (2015) who argued that anxiety
outcomes in learning the target language. in learning is an emotional state of apprehension, a
vague fear that is only indirectly associated with an
In language learning, attitudes seem to be very object. English language anxiety is a form of what
important in predicting learners’ academic psychologists as Stephen Krashen described as
performance. The learner’s favourable attitude to the specific anxiety reaction. Some individuals are more
language she/he is learning would facilitate success in predisposed to anxiety than others, may feel anxious
it. Tahaineh and Daana (2013) argue that personal in a wide variety of situations. English language
beliefs about one’s capabilities and positive attitudes anxiety, however it is a specific situation and so can
towards what one is learning positively influence also affect individuals who are not characteristically
learning. In this way, learners’ positive attitudes to the anxious in other situations.
language they are learning could help them to master
the language, leading to success in their performance Sarason and his associates in Legesse (2014) believed
at school and after school linguistic needs in real that anxiety had its roots in early childhood with both
daily-life situations. developmental and environmental elements. They
proposed that these elements are all linked to
English language anxiety has become a great concern perceived feelings of insecurity and inadequacy that
in a second language research over the last three are carried into adulthood. The feeling of anxiety is
decades according to Trang (2012) due to the specific very common. Some people refer to it as nervous and
nature of foreign language and the amount of fear and everyone with varied situations, has experienced
apprehension relate to learning such languages. anxiety at one time or another. The feeling of general
uneasiness, a sense of foreboding and a feeling of
English language anxiety has become a great concern tension is something that happens in our day to-day
in foreign and second language research over the last lives. Anxiety has both a physiological and a
three decades (Trang, 2012). In general, academic psychological aspect and it is the psychological aspect
anxiety can be defined as a unifying formulation for that affects the way we interpret sensations (Clark and
the collection of anxieties learners experience while in Beck, 2011).
According to Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope (1986) in media where anxiety can develop to affect the
Nefti (2013), there is a unique type of anxiety that is students’ psychology in achieving a successful
specific to foreign language which is originated form learning. As Negari & Rezaabadi (2012) pointed out
a situation-specific anxiety. Chen and Chang (2004) that even though little amount of anxiety is needed by
found that academic learning history as well as test EFL students to be more careful on the usage of
characteristics was not predictive variables of foreign English, but too much apprehension will affect the
language anxiety. students’ performance negatively and drive them to
big problems. In addition, Wu (2010) said it is true
Tobias as cited by Legesse (2014) described anxiety that anxiety is a major challenge for EFL students so
as an affective state. Since most learning was a that they need to find a way to overcome that feeling
cognitively mediated process, anxiety affected of apprehension. That is why there are many studies
learning only indirectly by impacting on cognitive which have such an interest on investigating the
processes at various stages. The author continued to anxiety to many aspects of students’ learning as well
describe learning in terms of the three classical as several strategies in order the students’ can figure
information processing components: input, out the tension that is caused by anxiety.
processing, and output. Input involves the
presentation of instructional material to students. Sharkawi (2009) defined language anxiety as the:
Processing encompasses the operations used to apprehension experienced when a situation requires
register, record, organize, store, and retrieve the use of a second language with which the
instructional input. Output denoted the measurement individual is not fully proficient. It is, therefore, seen
of achievement of the instructional objective. He took as a stable personality trait referring to the propensity
these components and developed a model that for an individual to react in a nervous manner when
described the effects of anxiety on learning from speaking, listening, reading, or writing in the second
instruction. According to this model, anxiety language.
potentially influenced the learning at three possible
points: pre-processing, during and after processing, Moreover, fear of negative evaluation is essentially a
and prior to output. cognitive construct and may be particularly amenable
to cognitive interventions (Anderson & Hope, 2014).
Anxiety influences students in learning language In an EFL context, it refers to academic evaluation as
because it can totally prevent students from achieving well as personal evaluations of the learners on the
their goals in learning due to they are all time fearful, basis of their performance (Toth, 2010). Finally, the
and do not feel protected from classroom last component of foreign language anxiety is test
environment. Thus, their anxiety has strong effect on apprehension or test anxiety. Test anxiety is an
their achievements (Wrench, et al., 2009). Paying apprehension over academic evaluation. It is a fear of
attention to this factor of learning should also be taken failing in tests and an unpleasant experience held
into consideration Among other effective variables, consciously or unconsciously by learners. It is the fear
anxiety stands out as one of the main blocking factor of exams, quizzes, and other assignments used to
for effective language learning (Nascente, 2001). evaluate students’ performance (Wu, 2010).
Kleinman (2009) divided anxiety into two kinds: 1) Wörde (2008) posted that the questions on the factors
facilitating , 2) debilitating anxiety, with the first is that contribute to anxiety,is the students belief on
valuable to performance and with the second is anxiety as hindrance to language acquisition, the
harmful to performance. English language anxiety factors that the students believe to reduce anxiety,
itself can have opposite views about the effect of it on ways that anxiety manifest on the participants and the
language learning where debilitating anxiety presents language that triggers the most anxiety. The reason
an obstruction to learning, whereas facilitating anxiety for this is anxiety as a lexicon was often interchanged
fosters and assist the progress of it. with the words nervousness and frustration. However,
most of the participants feel better knowing that
Anxiety has already appeared in many aspects in others also experience the same way.
language teaching for decades according to Negari &
Rezaabadi (2012). All of English basic skills such as Worde (2008) cited several factors that contribute to
reading, writing, speaking, and listening have been the students anxiety such as participating in speaking
activities, inability to understand the lessons, and their English proficiency had positive attitudes and
evaluation among others. Peer affiliation or a feeling were highly motivated towards learning English.
communal connectedness, classroom set-up and
teacher’s role were referred to by the participants as Fakeye (2010) in Eshghinejad (2016) determined that
factors that reduce anxiety. His research as a whole is there is a significant relationship between attitude and
thorough and suggestive since it encompassed achievement was the result found in that study.
language learning anxiety in both mental and physical Additionally, it was explored that students’ attitude is
condition of the participants. It appears that the not gender-related. Thus, there was not a statistically
students were more receptive in answering the face to significant difference in the attitudes of male and
face interview questions probably because relating female students.
and or recalling negative instances relieves them of
the pain associated to it. Fisher, et al. (2013) indicated that girls during
adolescence are more motivated to learn compared
In an article entitled English language learning with their peer boys, which is also reflected in results
anxiety among Iranian EFL freshmen university of their learning. Candeias, Rebelo & Oliveira (2010)
learners Yamat and Bidabadi (2012) claimed that note that girls seem to have more positive attitudes
while the freshmen experienced more anxiety on toward school, while boys are less motivated and have
being negatively evaluated they found no significant more negative attitudes toward school.
difference in foreign language learning anxiety
regarding gender; nonetheless, the participants were Latifah, et al. (2011) in Ahmeed (2015) discovered
anxious and nervous in terms of language skills. that personal motivation plays an insignificant impact,
However, they stated that males were more anxious in attitude plays a positive impact on performance in the
case of communication and tests whereas females English course conducted at Open University
showed more anxiety in English classes and fear of Malaysia.
being negatively evaluated.
Abidin, et al. (2012) in Eshghinejad (2016) found out
Local that their participants have a negative attitude in all
Facing up your fear is said to be the better way rather three aspects of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional
than escaping it. This ideology is something that toward learning English.
influenced yourself to conquer anxieties in speaking
and writing in the English language. Mamun, et al. (2012) in Ahmeed (2015) determined
that the learners have positive attitudes towards
In the Philippines, the utilization of English as a English language and their motivational orientation
second language has come into point that every a were instrumental in nature.
Filipino is yet fond patronizing much of knowing its
benefits towards them are greatly encouraging and Kubiatko (2013) argued that if attitudes towards a
worth spending effort for. But learning it is quite hard subject and school are positive, also the achievement
especially when there is extremely no interest to of students gets better. The achievement of a student
merely urge ourselves to be diligent and patient upon could be defined as individual progress, improvement
attaining the highest level of learning-comprehension- in terms of acquired knowledge, skills and
as well as using the language pertinent to the grammar competences. Many teachers, as is apparent from the
rules. Grammar is vehemently priotized than study of Holúbková & Glasová (2011) associated
understanding in teaching Filipinos to speak in academic achievement with a positive attitude of a
English, particularly when studying at school. So, student towards school that may not be necessarily
either of the two macro skills, speaking and writing, reflected in excellent achievements, although it will
use the language grammatically correct because if not be reflected in producing the best individual
someone will definitely notice it though there is performance in relation to a student’s dispositions.
fluency of language usage (Saysi, 2012). Academic achievement should be also analysed in a
relation to a student’s attitude towards learning and
Related Studies school, as it ensures internal motivation for providing
Foreign better performance.
Yang (2012) in Ahmeed (2015) found out that
learners who were highly and positively involved in
Chalak & Kassaian (2010) as cited by Ahmeed (2015) enthusiasm toward English. This also highlighted that
learned that these EFL learners tend to learn English most of them showed positive attitudes toward
for both instrumental and integrative reasons and their English language and its learning which, in turn,
attitude towards the target language is generally emphasized the value of English language efficiency
highly positive in nature. in the daily life.
Momani (2009) as cited by Abidin (2012) Al-Tamimi and Shuib (2009) as cited by Abidin
investigated the secondary stage students’ attitudes (2012) revealed that they had positive attitudes
towards learning English as a foreign language and towards the use of English in the Yemeni social and
their achievements in reading comprehension. The educational contexts. They also showed affirmative
findings showed that the respondents had neutral attitude towards the culture of the English speaking
positive attitudes toward learning English. Also, there world.
was a strong correlation between the students’
attitudes toward learning English and their Al-Zahrani (2008) as cited by Abidin (2012) found
performance in reading comprehension. out that there was not any clear difference among the
three years in their attitudes towards Learning English
Galloway (2011) as cited by Ahmeed (2015) as the descriptive statistics showed that the
suggested that the learners deem English belonging to respondents in the three years had the same level of
the native English speakers and they want to learn attitude.
native English. The results highlighted that a number
of factors influence students’ attitude. Sejčová (2006) as cited by Veresova & Mala (2016)
determined an important factor contributing to good
Bobkina & Fernandez (2012) as cited by Ahmeed results of students in individual subjects is their
(2015) determined that the predominant motivation attitude towards them. He indicated that an attitude
among Spanish engineering students is extrinsic in towards a subject reflects a measure of popularity
nature and most of the students have positive attitude that, in turn, reflects a tendency to undertake actions
towards the social values and educational status of required by the subject and the satisfaction gained
English. Moreover, students’ have positive orientation from these actions.
towards the English language.
Kara (2009) as cited by Eshghinejad (2016) stated that
Tahaineh & Daana (2013) as cited by Ahmeed (2015) positive attitude leads to the exhibition of positive
informed that the learners’ motivation was behavior toward studying, absorbing themselves in it,
instrumental in nature having utilitarian and academic and striving to learn more. Such students are also
reasons with the least impact of culture in it, whereas observed to show more enthusiasm to solve problems,
their attitude towards learning the target language and to acquire what is useful for daily life, and to engage
its community was highly positive. themselves emotionally.
Goktepe (2014) as cited by Ahmeed (2015) Wang (2006) as cited by kaur & Singh (2014)
discovered that these learners learn English mostly for mentioned that learning a language is a very complex
instrumental reasons and also integrative motivation is process and involves internal and external reasons.
dominant motivational orientation for the learners in Learners will show a positive attitude if they want to
some degree. learn the language and negative attitude if they do not
want to learn the language. However, positive attitude
Samadani & Ibnian (2015) as cited by Ahmeed always strengthens the motivation. There are also
(2015)revealed that the learners have overall positive situations where one shows a neutral feeling towards
attitude towards English and that students with high second language learning when they have no choice
GPA have the highest positive attitude towards but to learn the language in order to complete their
English, followed by the medium and the low GPA school’s requirement. Pan, Zang and Wu (2010)
students. explain that if the learner wants to learn a language, it
will have to show a positive attitude.
Shams (2008) as cited by Eshghinejad, (2016) found
that the students had affirmative attitudes and high
Nancy (2003) as cited by kaur & Singh (2014) sources of language anxiety and fear of negative
determined that the students were very interested and evaluation are fear of failing the class and fear of
motivated to learn the subject in English and positive leaving unfavorable impression on others,
attitude was shown. They also felt that learning respectively.
Mathematics in English was a challenging task, but
they still enjoyed learning it. In this study it was seen Mahmoodzadeh (2012) concluded that the female
that the students who are not proficient in English participants were found to be more prone to
were the ones lacked confidence and were feeling experiencing EFL speaking anxiety.
uncomfortable.
In a follow-up study, Mahmoodzadeh (2013) found
Liu (2007) as cited by kaur & Singh (2014) found a out, highlighting language classroom anxiety,
lot of positive attitude towards English language indicated that mixed-gender classrooms can be
learning and this resulted in high scores in their considered as an anxiety-provoking teaching context
proficiency test. The conclusion that can be gathered in Iran, since the presence of the opposite gender in
from this study is that if the respondents show EFL classrooms was found to cause statistically
positive attitude, the results will be excellent. significant amount of language anxiety among Iranian
learners.
Singh & Thukral (2009) reported an inverse
relationship between academic achievement and Nahavandi and Mukundan (2013) explored the level
academic anxiety. Singh (2009) found a significant of anxiety of 548 Iranian students the results of the
negative correlation between academic achievement study indicated that communication anxiety was the
and academic anxiety. predominant anxiety component among English-
major students.
Vogel and Collins cited by Legesse (2014) found that
students with high-test anxiety as well as those Al-Seraj (2011) found out that anxiety-provoking
students with low-test anxiety showed lower academic situations included the environment, the teacher, and
performance. Moreover, those students with moderate the content of material in the class, as well as the
levels of test anxiety performed well. communication style.
Another study was conducted by Tiegist (2010) noted Rezazadeh and Tavakoli (2009), Riasati (2011),
that socially anxious groups had lower GPA as AzarfamandBak (2012), Noori (2013) and
compared to that of the non-socially anxious Talebinejad and Nekouei (2013) conducted with
participants. It is possible to say that the lower GPA different groups of people. The review of a sample of
of socially anxious groups was due to their socially recently published studies in this respect shows that
anxiety. anxiety-related research has been in consonance with
other mainstream studies in other EFL contexts across
Yamat and Bidabadi (2012) revealed that these the globe.
university students experienced the anxiety of being
evaluated negatively in EFL classrooms. The findings Atef-Vahid and Kashani (2011) revealed that although
also demonstrated no statistically significant some students felt extremely confident and relaxed,
difference between male and female EFL learners. however, one-third of the students experienced
moderate to high-anxiety levels while learning the
Izadi and Atasheneh (2012) investigated the effects of English language in class. English classroom anxiety
FLL anxiety on the communicative skills of listening had the highest correlational value among other types
and speaking of a sample of 30 Iranian EFL students. of anxiety in FLCAS.
They found that anxiety is a matter which is directly
related to the students' self-confidence and self- Yousefi, Azarfam and Baki (2012) mentioned that
esteem. Language anxiety involves three connected anxieties:
communication apprehension; test anxiety; and fear of
Shabani (2012) determined that participants suffered negative evaluation. It is clear that a foreign language
from language anxiety and fear of negative class can be more anxiety-provoking than any other
evaluation. The findings demonstrated that the prime course for many students (Liu, 2007 ;Ohata , 2005).
Trang (2012) found out that traditionally, anxiety Al-Saraj (2011) explains why Saudi Arabian culture
research has focused mainly on the state-trait anxiety creates a social and cultural setting for examining
in investigating the role of anxiety in language FLA. The education system in Saudi Arabia is free for
learning. According to such an approach, language all levels, where male and female students are
anxiety is a transfer of other more general types of separated, typically attending segregated schools. The
anxiety. Therefore, test- anxious students feel so combination of factors such as the importance of
because they fell that they are constantly tested. Also, learning English, the educational system and
shy people feel uncomfortable when asked to conservative culture create an environment for FLA.
communicate publicly. Early studies adopting such Moreover, the study where only females were
approach yielded conflicting results about the effects participating showed, that giving live, in-class
of anxiety on achievement and performance Serraj presentations causes strong anxiety for them.
and Noordin (2013) revealed in their study that there
was a negative correlation between FLLA and In the research by Al-Saraj (2011), majority of the
listening comprehension and a negative correlation participants pointed out teachers characteristics as the
between FLA and listening comprehension whereas major cause of their anxiety. Teachers no-sense
FLA and FLLA enjoyed a positive correlation. It explaining of the subject, over-correcting the students
could be concluded that the relationship between and visible favoritism strongly contributed to
Foreign Language Anxiety and Foreign Language increasing anxiety by the students as well. Moreover,
Listening Anxiety of the participants were in teachers authoritative nature, embarrassing and
accordance with each other. Furthermore the result humiliating attitude towards students create stressful
showed that the impact of FLLA on Iranian students’ environment in the class (Tanveer, 2007). Therefore,
listening comprehension skill was significantly more it is important that teachers pay attention to signals of
problematic. anxiety radiating from the students and accommodate
the later steps.
Awan, et al. (2010) revealed that language anxiety
and achievement are negatively related to each other. AlAsmari (2015) found out that participants have not
It is also found that female students are less anxious in exhibited any significant differences in the
learning English as a foreign language than male perceptions of Saudi preparatory year students
students. Speaking in front of others is rated as the regarding FL anxiety in relation to their English
biggest cause of anxiety followed by "worries about language proficiency. At the elementary school level,
grammatical mistakes", pronunciation and "being Alshahrani & Alandal (2015) investigated the level of
unable to talk spontaneously". FLA and the impact of gender differences among 146
male and 114 female 6th grade Saudi students. The
Ay (2010) found out that the students' level of results showed that FLA was moderate and gender
instruction was taken into account as the main source difference did not play a significant impact on anxiety
of anxiety. towards foreign language learning. Alrabai, (2014)
also conducted a study to investigate the levels and
In addition, Dordinejad and Ahmadabad (2014) sources of foreign language anxiety (FLA) among
foreign language classroom anxiety was found to be 1389 Saudi (male and female) EFL learners. The
significantly and negatively correlated with English participants were of intermediate, high and university
language achievement. Females were found to be levels. The participating learners reported moderate to
more anxious than their male counterparts. high levels of anxiety, with communication being the
key cause of learners’ language anxiety.
According to Ushida (2005) as cited by Nyamubi
(2016), motivation mediates the relationship between Javid (2014) revealed that Saudi preparatory year bear
language attitudes and language achievement. The medium level of language learning anxiety. Among
current study, however, examined the role students’ the four anxiety factors, communication apprehension
language attitudes in their performance in English anxiety remained at the top followed by English
without including motivation as mediating factor classroom anxiety. Fear of negative evaluation
between the two variables under study, because other anxiety has been assigned the third position and test
studies have dealt with this (Gardner, 2000, Ushida, anxiety got the least average mean.
2005).
Furthermore, Al-Saraj (2014) examined the anxiety Nakhaei, et al. (2010) showed on their study that the
level of 83 EFL female students – in a College group based on overall consciousness in experimental
Preparatory Program (CPP)- using the Arabic Foreign group had less anxiety in the examinations compared
Language Anxiety Questionnaire (AFLAQ). The with the group based on study skills in control group.
study revealed that participants’ average AFLAQ
scores ranged from 1.80 to 4.30 out of 5.00; the mean Rukh (2014) concluded in his study that students have
score across participants in Level 1 was 3.33, Level 3 positive attitudes towards learning English in
was 3.25 and Level 4 was 2.95. association with achievement. In another study Al
samadeni and Ibnian (2015) found that“students with
Ezzi (2012) conducted a study in Yemen in Hodeidah high GPAs have the highest positive attitudes towards
University. The number of the participants is 163 learning English, followed by the medium GPA
students enrolled in the third and the fourth year. The students and finally the low GPA students”.
data was collected using Foreign Language Classroom
Anxiety Scale and the result shows that female Hussain, Shahid and Zaman, (2011), found a negative
students experience higher level of anxiety than male correlation between foreign language anxiety and
students. students’ attitude towards English. Female students
had a positive attitude toward English and less
Awan and her colleagues (2010) employed FLCAS to anxiety. Also, rural students were found to have a
examine FLL anxiety among 149 undergraduate higher anxiety level and low attitude towards English.
learners with regard to the type of situations that Similarly, Liu and Chen (2013), in their study, found
provoke anxiety during different stages of the learning that students who had a higher level of positive
process and the relationship of anxiety with learners' attitudes had significantly lower anxiety.
achievement. It was found that female students are
less anxious in learning English as a foreign language Local
than male students. Communication anxiety and In a recently published study, Mamhot, Martin and
English classroom environment were rated as the Masagya (2013) examined language learning anxiety
biggest causes of anxiety among Pakistani EFL among 40 EFL respondents in the Philippines
learners, respectively. administering FLCAS and complementary
questionnaires. The general results of this study
Another study is conducted by Kamarulzaman et al. showed that the Filipino learners had a high level of
(2013) investigated the difference in the level of fear of negative evaluation regarding low self-
anxiety between males and females. The result perceived linguistic competency.
revealed that females experience higher level of
anxiety than males. Rochele Irene Lucas, et al. (2011) conducted a study
at De La Salle University - Manila, showed that
Arnaiz and Guillén’s (2012) investigated that foreign English Langauge learners would equip themselves
language anxiety regarding individual differences with learning strategies that would help them not only
indicated that participants showed an average level of to learn the target but also to cope with their language
anxiety in which females were more anxious than learning anxieties. It was also found that test anxiety
males; and that lower level students proved to be is and fear of negative evaluation constitutes the type
more anxious. of learning anxieties these were students
experiencing. It can be gleaned from the results that
Cheragian et al. (2008) found out that most of the foreign learners experience anxiety if they are being
students had low and moderate levels of anxiety. evaluated by both their peers and their teachers as to
Also, they found no significant relationship between their performance in using the target language. This is
test anxiety and the students' total average score; rooted perhaps because of negative affective
however, high anxiety led to an increase in the experience when they were learning the language and
students' poor performance. The researchers also, they would like to avoid ‘losing face’ in their
suggested that in addition to special attention to this English Language class.
problem, more studies should be conducted to identify
the related causes and provide strategies for Furthermore, it has been proved that reading anxiety
decreasing anxiety among students (ibid). exists, especially that there will always be the
involvement of a learner’s affective domain even in academic self-concept particularly among Bachelors
academic setting where cognitive faculties are much of Arts in English Sophomore of the University of
more needed. In fact, the study affirms that reading Southeastern Philippines, Inigo St; Bo. Obrero, Davo
anxiety comes in three different categories, namely City, school year 2008-2009. The study involved
top-down reading, bottom-up reading, and classroom thirty Bachelor of Arts in English Sophomore of the
reading. In the case of MSU ILS Grade 8 students, it University of Southeastern Philippines during the
is at a high level. It sends a message that anxiety second semester of school 2008-2009.
greatly takes place while students undergo the process
of reading a text written in English (Guima & Alico, Results of the study showed that the level of language
2015). anxiety of the Bachelor of Arts in English Sophomore
is y=2.98. This means that the level of language
Gomari and Lucas (2013) had a study which was anxiety the students is average. Furthermore, the
conducted in Manila, the capital city of the result of the study showed that the level of language
Philippines, and the subjects were selected from four anxiety of the Bachelor of Arts in English Sophomore
different private universities in Metro Manila. The of the University of Southeastern Philippines -
results of the FLCAS survey showed that Iranian EFL Obrero, for the school year 2008-2009, has no
learners in the Philippines generally experience significant correlation on their Academic Self-
anxiety while learning the English language. The Concept and any of its four facets.
primary source of anxiety for Iranian EFL learners in
this study was Test Anxiety. This was followed, Synthesis
respectively, by Communication Apprehension, The aforementioned literature and studies have a
English Classroom Anxiety, and Fear of Negative positive influence in this study because of the relevant
Evaluation. insights on investigating the impact of students’
attitude towards English language on academic
Awan et al. (2010) investigated the relationship achievement. The researcher claimed that the
between foreign language classroom anxiety and the language anxiety of the students can be attributed to
students’ achievement using a short form of FLCAS many factors but mostly, based from the study, it can
and an inventory of situations that causes anxiety. be inferred that productivity of students is hampered
They reported a negative relationship between in terms of their performance in English because of
language anxiety and achievement. They also found the many factors surrounding the language; this
that females are less anxious than males in learning includes: being fearful of making mistakes, gaining
English and the main cause of anxiety was speaking criticism as a result of the mistakes, their limited
in front of other students in class. capacity to express themselves, and their insufficiency
in terms of the knowledge on the subject content.
The study of Del Villar (2010) sought to identify how
beginning Filipino students explained their fears about This study claimed that students faced factors that
oral communication. Only by knowing his/her impede performance in the classroom. These
students’ fear would a teacher able to tailor the most experiences are oftentimes contributing to their
suitable teaching-learning activities. Results revealed anxiety in the class. Moreover to address the issues on
an 8 factor model explaining 69.11% of the total students’ attitude and anxiety faced by the junior high
variance in the data. The factors were: expectation, students when using English as a medium of
training and experience, audience, self-worth, expression in class interaction. Speaking activities to
rejection, verbal fluency, preparation and previous diminish if not eradicate anxiety will be proposed to
unpleasant experience. These factors were the make the teaching and learning process meaningful
attributions for the fears beginning Filipino students and productive especially in learning the English
with them when they first steeped into the language.
communication 3 classrooms.
In the study conduct by Capulet, et al. (2013 ) on the RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Language Anxiety and Academic Self-concept was This chapter contains the research method used in this
primarily to determine if language anxiety has a study. This describes the research locale, research
significant relationship on the students’ level of respondents, research instrument, data gathering
procedure and the statistical tools used in analyzing Research Locale
the data. The study was conducted at Felisberto Verano
National High School located at Poblacion, Cortes,
Research Design Surigao del Sur of Caraga (Region XIII). The school
The descriptive quantitative method of research was situated in a hilly portion of the barangay, is the
used to determine the impact of English language former building of the Municipality of Cortes.
anxiety on the students’ academic achievement. To
measure the anxiety level of English language This school is the central school in the Municipality
classroom activity anxiety and the attitude of grade 9 of Cortes; it offers Junior high school Grades 7 to 10,
students toward English a Likert-scale was used and General Academics (GAS), Humanities and Social
rated with the following options: Strongly Disagree - Sciences (HUMSS), and Technical Vocational
1, Disagree - 2, Undecided - 3, Agree - 4, Strongly Livelihood, specifically cookery for the grade 11
Agree – 5 , 1 - Very Relaxed, 2 - Moderately Relaxed, Senior High School Students. There are 16 teaching
3 - Anxious, 4 - Moderately Anxious, 5 - Very personnel and 5 non-teaching personnel of the school
Anxious. with 545 students enrolled in the current school year.
Figure 2 presents the geographical location of
Felisberto Verano National in the District of Cortes,
Division of Surigao del Sur.
Figure2. Map of the Research Locale
Respondents of the Study the impact of students’ attitude towards english
This study used universal sampling because it language on academic achievement.
considered the two classes of the grade 9 students of Data Gathering Procedure
Felisberto Verano National High School. One class Prior to gathering the data, the researcher sent a letter
was composed of 43 learners and the other class was of intent to the Schools Division Superintendent to
comprised of 45 students with a total of 88 students as conduct this study. With the Superintendent’s
the chosen respondents of this study. endorsement, the researcher gave a copy of the said
letter to the School Principal of Felisberto Verano
The researcher chose to work with the grade 9 National High School; thus, the researcher was able to
students who are grouped heterogeneously. The administer the test to the student-respondents.
researcher generally observed that most of the
students, but not all showed less importance in Before distributing the questionnaires, the researcher
English as an academic subject; in fact, only a few of explained the purpose and the importance of this
them participated in class discussion especially when study and the ways on how to fill out the
asked to give insights about the topic. However, questionnaires. The conduct of the study was done
when in comes to group activities such as role playing during the usual teaching hours. The questionnaires
they had showcased their skills with extra ordinary were administered to the grade 9 Junior High School
talent. Table 1 presents the distribution of the Students. Administration of the questionnaire to the
respondents. students was done within a 30-minute period during
the second week of December 2017.
Table 1 Distribution of Respondents
Total Sample After administering the test, the questionnaires were
Population Respondents retrieved personally by the researcher to ensure the
Class A 43 43 hundred percent retrieval. Data were then tallied
tabulated, analyzed, treated, and interpreted. After the
Class B 45 45 interpretation of the data, inferences, conclusions
were derived and recommendations were offered.
Total 88 88
Statistical Treatment
Research Instrument The statistical tools used in analyzing the data of this
In this study, the participants were asked to complete study were weighted mean and Pearson Product
a survey questionnaire on the Attitude Towards Moment of Correlation (Pearson-r). The weighted
English (Appendix C) and the level of anxiety mean was used to determine the attitude of Grade 9
towards English Language Activity (Appendix D). students towards English language class and the level
The first instrument used was a 10 – item of anxiety towards English during class activities
standardized questionnaire of Alessia Occhipinti using the MPS for the second grading of A.Y. 2017-
(2009) that used a 5- point Likert scale ranging from 2018 as data.
1- strongly disagree, 2- disagree, 3 - undecided, 4 -
agree to 5- strongly agree. Pearson Product Moment Correlation (Pearson-r) was
used to determine the significant relationships
The second instrument has 25-item questions using a between the respondent’s MPS and Attitude towards
5- point Likert scale ranging from 1- very relaxed, 2- English Language, MPS and Level of Anxiety
moderately relaxed, 3 - anxious, 4 - moderately towards English Class Activities and finally, the
anxious to 5- very anxious. This English version of significant relationship between attitude and the level
foreign language classroom attitude scale checklist is of anxiety.
standardized based on Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope
(1986) as cited by Vahid (2011). PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND
INTERPRETATION OF DATA
These instruments were designed to gather data from This chapter presents the data gathered which were
the respondents in order to analyse students’ response, analysed and interpreted following the sequence of
to have a deep view and to draw their perception on the statement of the problem.
Attitude of Grade 9 Students towards English Table 3 Level of English Language Anxiety
Language Class Activities Indicators Mean Adjectival Rating
Table 2 shows the mean results of the tallied Attitude 1 2.26 Anxious
of Grade 9 students towards English language class 2 2.57 Anxious
activities. 3 2.85 Anxious
4 2.38 Moderately Relaxed
Table 2 Attitude of Grade 9 Students towards 5 2.78 Anxious
English Language Class Activities 6 2.82 Anxious
Attitudes Mean Adjectival Rating 7 2.80 Anxious
1 2.26 Agree 8 2.59 Moderately Relaxed
3 2.12 Slightly Disagree 10 2.52 Moderately Relaxed
4 3.11 Agree 11 2.79 Anxious
7 2.12 Slightly Disagree 14 2.52 Moderately Relaxed
8 2.44 Slightly Disagree 15 2.90 Anxious
9 2.57 Slightly Disagree 16 2.89 Anxious
Over-all Mean 2.61 Agree 18 2.90 Anxious
19 2.35 Moderately Relaxed
As the table revealed, the grade 9 students exhibited a 20 2.39 Moderately Relaxed
negative attitude towards English as a subject. From 21 2.78 Anxious
the benchmark statements, it was underscored that 22 2.76 Anxious
they do not like English. This suggests that students 23 2.73 Anxious
generally dislike English as a subject because they 24 2.79 Anxious
find it difficult to express themselves using the
25 2.84 Anxious
language as a medium for communication.
Over- all Mean 2.65 Anxious
Furthermore, English as a subject is rule-governed
and these students are not familiar with the rules of
When a teacher conducts a speaking activity such as
grammar which make it difficult for them to construct
debate, students display anxiety. The anxiety can be
correct sentences. This is in consonance with the
attributed to the fear that debate activity requires
statement of Al Samadeni and Ibnian (2015) when
students to speak spontaneously about their stand on a
they articulated that students with high GPAs have the
certain issue of which students find this situation to be
highest positive attitude towards learning English,
upsetting, thus nervousness sets in. Furthermore,
followed by the medium GPA students and finally the
students are also anxious when the teacher does not
low GPA students. This means that as the GPA
clarify to everyone that everyone is culpable of
declines, attitude towards English also shifts from
making mistakes, thus because they do not want to be
positive to negative.
laughed at that they are afraid when asked to speak in
front of everyone. The statement that gained a mean
Statement with the lowest mean is on “I have heard of
rating of 2.18 with the adjectival rating of moderately
the phrase Filipino-English” with 2.12 and adjectival
relaxed is on the item wherein students do not feel
rating of slightly disagree. This means that students
nervous even when they are asked to speak in front
are unaware of Filipino English when they hear of the
when they are not corrected by their teacher or
word “English,” they do not have an idea as to the
classmates. This implies that corrections make them
variants of English revealing the limited knowledge
upset since students have not developed the value of
they have on the said language.
appreciation for positive criticism.
Level of English Language Anxiety
Many researchers have pointed out that the skill
Table 3 shows the results of the level of english
producing most anxiety is speaking according to
language anxiety.
MacIntyre and Gardner (1991) in Go, et al. (2011);
this anxiety comes in part from a lack of confidence in true for foreign students who may have the feeling of
the learners’ general linguistic knowledge but if only being under critical evaluation as far as their
this factor were involved; all skills would be affected utterances, grammar use and other communication
equally. Moreover, Young (1991) in Go, et al. (2011) means are concerned.
compiled a list of classroom activities which are
perceived by students as anxiety-producing activities: MPS of the Respondents in the Second Grading
(1) spontaneous role play in front of the class; (2) Period
speaking in front of the class; (3) oral presentations or The Grade 9 students of Felisberto Verano National
skits performed in the class; (4) presenting a prepared High School gained an MPS of Seventy Five (75)
dialogue in front of the class; and (5) writing work on during the Second Grading Period of School year
the board. Error correction also turned out to play an 2017-2018. This implies that these Junior High
important role in contributing to a students’ anxiety. School students have reached only a passing rate in
Furthermore, Palacios (1998) in Go, et al. (2011) also terms of their academic performance in English. This
found the following classroom tasks characteristics to further connotes that students have difficulty in
be anxiety-producing: demands of oral production, English. In the research locale as observed by the
feeling of being put on the spot, the pace of the class, English teachers and other teachers teaching subjects
and the element of being evaluated. taught in English, they observed that students have
insufficient knowledge on vocabulary and English
Although many learners feel that some error structure, and they lack the confidence to talk before a
correction is necessary Koch & Terrell (1991) and crowd. The study of Adelson, et al., (2014)
Horwitz (1988) explained that the manner of error underscored that students find difficulty in learning
correction is often cited as provoking anxiety. It has English as a second language because their
also been found that students are more concerned knowledge of the English such as sentence structure,
about how (i.e., when, what, where or how often, etc.) vocabulary, grammar, morphology and pragmatics is
their mistakes are corrected than whether error underdeveloped. Furthermore, they also posited that
correction should be administered in class. In relation students’ academic performance is largely affected
to the fear of negative evaluation from others. Ohata with their processing, sequencing and memory
(2005) in by Go, et al. (2011) also suggests that fear problems, together with the difficulty in drawing
of losing “face” in front of others was also found to be inferences.
a shared anxious feeling by language learners.these
students have expressed anxiety in evaluative Significant Relationship between Respondents’
situations in which their knowledge and performance MPS and Attitude Towards English
of English were to be monitored by people around Table 4 shows the significant relationship between the
them. This fear of losing “face” may be particularly respondents’ MPS and attitude towards English.
Table 4 Significant Relationship between Respondents’ MPS and Attitude towards English
Variables Tested Computed r P-value Decision Conclusion
Respondents’ MPS and Attitude 0.357 0.001 Reject Null Hypothesis Highly Significant
Table 4 shows the P-value of 0.001 rejecting the null Rukh (2014) when he concluded in his study that
hypothesis. This posits that there is a high significant students have positive attitudes towards learning
relationship between the respondents MPS with their English in association with achievement. In another
attitude towards English. Results imply that the way study Al samadeni and Ibnian (2015) found that
that students think and behave towards English students with high GPAs have the highest positive
language whether positive or negative is highly attitudes towards learning English, followed by the
correlated to their academic performance. When medium GPA students and finally the low GPA
students display a positive behavior towards the students.”
subject, most likely, they also perform academically
well. However, when they manifest negative behavior Significant Relationship between the Respondents’
towards the subject, academic performance is also MPS and Level of Attitude
affected because they are not interested to accomplish Table 5 presents significant relationship between
things related to the subject. This is supported by respondents’ MPS and level of anxiety.
Table 5 Significant Relationship between the Respondents’ MPS and Level of Attitude
Respondents’ MPS and Failed to reject Null
0.113 0.310 Not Significant
level of Anxiety Hypothesis
On the significant relationship between respondents’ grammatical mistakes,” pronunciation and "being
MPS and their level of attitude, the P-value 0.310 unable to talk spontaneously.”
failed to reject the null hypothesis; therefore there is
no significant relationship between attitude level on Significant Relationship between Students’
their academic performance. Result implies that Attitude and the Level of Anxiety
whether the attitude level is high or low, the academic Table 6 presents the significant relationship between
performance of the respondents is not affected, thus students’ attitude and the level of anxiety. On the
the increase or decrease on the academic performance significant relationship between students’ attitude and
is attributed to other factors not identified in this the level of anxiety, the P-value is 0.800 failed to
study. Also, the data reveals that students do not reject the null hypothesis. This implies that there is no
display attitude in the subject as a whole but during significant relationship between students’ attitude and
those moments when they are asked to speak in front the level of anxiety. This implies that how students
of other people. feel or behave towards English language does not
necessarily have anything to do with their level of
One of the studies is the one conducted by Awan et al. anxiety. The anxiety level of students could probably
(2010) who investigated foreign language classroom be affected by factors not identified in this study.
anxiety in its relationship with students' achievement. Students’ behavior towards English may sometimes
It is revealed that language anxiety and achievement be positive or negative, but the subject as a whole
are negatively related to each other. It is also found does not upset them or makes them anxious. In other
that female students are less anxious in learning words, when there are activities not exposing them to
English as a foreign language than male students. public eye, like writing and reading journals, they do
Speaking in front of others is rated as the biggest not display antagonism to the subject. An activity that
cause of anxiety followed by "worries about requires them to perform in front of other people
triggers their anxiety but not at all times.
Table 6 Significant Relationship between Students’ Attitude and the Level of Anxiety
Respondents’ attitude and Failed to Reject Null
0.028 0.800 Not Significant
level of Anxiety Hypothesis
In the study conducted by Hussain, et al. (2011), they through their levels of anxiety based on the Mean
found out a negative correlation between foreign Percentage Score. The study indicates that majority of
language anxiety and students’ attitude towards the students are anxious towards the English subject
English. Female students had a positive attitude and results to anxiously speaking in the said subject.
toward English and less anxiety. Also, rural students
were found to have a higher anxiety level and low Teachers all over the Philippines are asking students
attitude towards English. Similarly, Liu and Chen to create and deliver speeches as part of their
(2013). In their study, it was found out that students collection of evidence showing progress toward state
who had a higher level of positive attitudes had standards. However, many educators do not have a
significantly lower anxiety. background in speaking instruction or do not feel
confident in helping students meet this standard.
Suggested Speaking Activities Moreover, speaking activities have been developed to
Rationale provide teaching strategies for public speaking and to
The students’ attitude towards English language level share a collection of quality classroom speaking
of the Grade 9 students of Felisberto Verano National activities.
High School, Cortes I District was investigated
Objectives: questions left, points can also be increased to enhance
➢ Develop fundamental listening and speaking the competition. The group who will earn the most
skills; points at the end of the game will be declared as
➢ Learn and apply knowledge of adjective winners.
vocabulary to describe various objects;
➢ Practice speaking and listening to the present Materials and Preparation:
perfect tense and the differences between for and
since;
➢ Ask and answer questions in front of the class;
➢ Review vocabulary and practice communication;
➢ Review previous information, to gather
information from a partner through interviewing,
and discuss opinions with a partner;
➢ Practice explaining cultural icons to English
speaking foreigners;
WHO/WHAT AM I? A WARM UP ACTIVITY

Prepare a list of 10 questions with 3 hints each as well
as an extra hint for each question (in case students
cannot guess by the third hint). Here is an example of
a PERSON question: Lady Gaga. Hint No. 1: I am
famous for my great fashion style and my beautiful
voice. Hint No. 2: I am a female American pop singer.
Hint No. 3: One of my famous songs is 'Just dance'.
Extra Hint (Hint No. 4): The first part of my name is
'Lady.’
Teacher’s tasks:
PREPARATION: The teacher will create the
Target Group: All Grades
questions that correspond to the academic level of the
students.
Difficulty Level:
Basic Conversation
BEFORE THE ACTIVITY: The teacher will divide
the students into groups, numbers the groups, and puts
Activity Objective:
up a scoreboard. Lastly, the teacher will use the
To develop fundamental listening and speaking skills
example question in order to explain the game to the
students.
Students’ Task:
Students will be placed in groups with 4-5 members.
DURING THE ACTIVITY: The teacher will give the
Groups will be numbered from 1 onwards and a
hints, check to see which group had their hands raised
scoreboard will be written up. Students must listen
first in order to answer the question. Furthermore, the
carefully to 3 hints and try to guess the thing or
teacher will keep a record of the scores and update the
person as quickly as possible by raising their hands.
scoreboard as groups answer the questions correctly.
Alternatively, each group will be given a chance to
When it has reached the last three questions, it is at
answer and if they cannot answer correctly, the next
the discretion of the teacher as to how many points the
group can try to answer and so on. Each hint is worth
game will be increased by (as it all depends on the
points: i.e. If students can guess by Hint No. 1 they
scores).
will receive 30 points; Hint No. 2 is worth 20 points
and Hint No. 3 is worth 10 points. If a 4th hint is
Suggestions and Advice:
needed, this will be worth 5 points. The focus will be
1. When preparing the questions, always prepare an
on 10 questions about things (e.g. food, sports etc.)
extra 2-3 questions in case you need a tie breaker.
and/or people. This activity can also be used to review
2. Make sure the example question is easy for the
previously studied content. When there are only 2-3
students to follow. adjectives to describe each object. If groups finish
3. The hints should neither be too easy nor too early, students will write descriptive sentences using
difficult; the first hint should never be too the information in the table. An example sentence will
obvious. be provided on the hand-out for students.
4. Instead of having students all raise their hands at
once, have only one student from each group Materials and Preparation:
stand up for each round and guess on behalf of Adjective flashcards about touch, size, shape and
their group (it is easier to manage the game this color will be used for introducing adjective
way for rowdy classes). vocabulary to students. The teacher will hold up
5. Constantly check the reaction of the students and various flashcards and have students say each word
use the blackboard to draw/ write clues if students aloud. Students will fill in the table with four
do not understand the vocabulary being used in adjectives to describe each object. Various objects
the hints. including a fake flower, stuff animal, magnet, bubble
wrap, seashells, cloth and picture frame will be passed
NAME THAT ADJECTIVE around to each small group. Students will describe
each object after viewing and interacting with it.
Teacher’s Tasks
Target Group: All grades

Difficulty Level: Fundamentals
1. The teacher will take turns holding up the
Activity Objective: adjective flashcards. The teacher will say each
To learn and apply knowledge of adjective vocabulary word twice and have the students repeat the word
to describe various objects after them. The teacher will pass out the hand-out
to students.
Students’ Tasks 2. Teacher will explain the directions on how to
Students will be complete the hand-out. The teacher will choose
introduced to adjective some students to repeat the directions to check for
vocabulary relating to understanding. The teacher will demonstrate an
touch, size, shape and example for the class using a toy train.
color through the use of 3. Teacher will give one object to each group and
flashcards. After walk around the classroom to provide assistance
repeating the vocabulary and feedback during the activity. The teacher will
words, students will be signal students when to change objects. At the end
given a hand-out with of the class, the teacher will collect the objects and
an adjective word bank and table containing a list of hand-outs from students and end the class.
various objects. Students will form small groups of 4-
5 students. Each group will receive different objects Suggestions and Advice:
provided by the Teacher. The students will examine To make this activity run more smoothly teachers can
the object and write four adjectives to describe that determine small groups ahead of time for effective
object. The teacher will demonstrate an example for student placement. The teacher should also establish
students. The objects will rotate through the small rules for handling the objects at the beginning of the
groups until each group has received all of the objects. class, for example, treat the objects with care and do
Students will fill out the table by writing four not throw objects across the room. A timer can be
used to determine the front of class and made to do an easy task (asking
how long each them questions to answer in the present perfect tense).
group will have
each object. The Materials and Preparation:
teacher should Present Perfect grammar lesson, 40 cards (5 of which
determine and match the details the teachers will give), interview
explain how the sheets, and thieves sheet for the teachers to read out at
objects are to be the end).
rotated through
the groups to Suggestions and Advice:
avoid confusion among the students. During the This activity has been one of my most successful
activity, teachers should provide more support for activities. I find that stressing the roll-playing aspect
students that are off task or struggling. of this activity (that they are detectives and that five
of their fellow students are thieves) make this activity
SOMETHING HAS BEEN STOLEN more enjoyable. During the thieves information part, I
found that having all the students start with their
hands raised and only lowering them when they have
no matches works much better than giving the
information and asking who the thieves are
afterwards. Also, when making cards, make sure that
most of the information matches up to the thieves'
information until the last questions. This keeps the
students very interested in listening because they
think they have caught at least one thief until they
hear the last question.
DO - IT - MYSELF QUIZ
Difficulty Level:
Basic Conversation
Activity Objective:
To practice speaking and listening to the present
perfect tense and the differences between for and
since.
Teacher Tasks:
The teachers start this activity by announcing that
something has been stolen and there are five thieves
in the classroom. The students are now detectives and Target Group: All grades
must interview other students to find the five thieves.
Each student receives one card. This card has answers Difficulty Level:
written in broken English for the students to build Basic Conversation
sentences on, for example, [be a member of soccer
club] [2 years]. The example sentence would be "I Activity Objective:
have been a member of soccer club for 2 years.” To ask and answer questions in front of the class
There are 6 of these answers. Students interview three
fellow students and write down the answers in third Students’ Tasks
person "He has played baseball since last year.” After 1. Learn vocabulary of new lesson using flashcards
each student has interviewed three other students, the and repetition, class chorus responses.
teachers read out the details of the thieves. After the 2. Show examples of Who/Which/Whose sentences
details have been said, the teachers ask the students if using relative pronouns explaining how they are
they have found a thief. The "thieves" are brought to used in the sentence.
3. Instructions: Students will create 12 questions Moreover, the teacher can help too, walking
using relative pronouns on three given sheets. Ex. around the classroom.
The river which is the longest in the world. 4. Language teacher collects sheets and gives team
Answer: The Nile. Sheet A includes questions points for correctly composed sentences with
about the new lesson (please use some new answers and records score on the board.
vocabulary words) and each question is worth 3 5. Language teacher encourages students as they ask
points. Sheet B includes questions about the 2 questions to the class, maybe helping with
previous lessons and each question is worth 2 pronunciation, calling on teams to answer and
points. Sheet C includes questions about anything recording teams' scores on the board and calls up
else (i.e. Japan, food, famous characters) and each next group.
question is worth 1 point. Students are divided 6. Awards prizes to students participation.
into 4 groups of 5 students and are given 12
minutes to create questions and include answers. Suggestions and Advice:
4. Check questions and answers for validity and During #3, having the Language teacher walks around
grammar, receive team points for creating the room and helping students start relative pronoun
questions. sentences really helps. Getting the students started on
5. Each team selects 6 questions to ask in front of the a sentence and giving ideas for topics or helping them
class. Reading them aloud and choosing the team correct sentences will help students to create a non-
to answer. For each correct answer, the answering pressured situation for the students to ask questions.
team and the team posing the question receives This also creates a sense of comfort to ask questions
team points based on which Sheet (A, B or C) is about instructions or content during the class period.
used.
6. Give each team points for questions and answers. ARTICULATE
7. Determine a winner, receive prize!
Materials and Preparation:
Difficulty Level:
Prepare flashcards, Sheets A, B and C; one for each Basic Conversation
group. Team flags for answering questions and group Activity Objective:
names and have prizes for winning team. To review vocabulary and practice communication
Teacher’s tasks: Students’ Task:

1. Language teacher prepares flashcards including 1. Students make pairs and one student “goes to
new English words with accent and using sleep” (puts their head on the desk so they can't
flashcards during the lesson to respond with the see what will be written on the blackboard). The
class. teacher writes a word on the board (recently learnt
2. Language teacher prepares examples of relative vocabulary, key word for the lesson, etc.) which
pronoun sentences, writes on the board, and only the “awake” students read and rubs the word
explains how the relative pronoun works within off the board and all students “wake up.”
the sentence. 2. The students who read the word have to describe
3. Language teacher gives instructions (using it to their partner in English (no actions, no
gestures of course) and checks the sentences that spelling clues, no “sounds like”). Repeat as many
student groups create, correcting if necessary. times as desired with students switching roles.
Materials and Preparation: (interview): students first write their own answers and
then ask partner and take note of partner's answers.
Change partner when I say "go" and repeat process.
Exercise 3 (discussion): students first write their

answers and then share their opinion with their partner
and discuss the answers.
No materials required. The words to be used simply

need to be decided beforehand. Recently learnt
vocabulary and key words for the lesson are
recommended.
Teacher’s tasks:
The teacher supervises the activity, ensuring students
obey the rules and use correct English. If students get Materials: Hand-out
stuck they can ask either teacher for help.
Teacher’s tasks:
Suggestions and Advice: Teacher: explains activities and call on students to
This is a fun activity which can be used as a warm up; answer. Shout out "go" to cue students to change
it can also be made into a more competitive game by seats. Teacher: walks around and help students as
adding a time limit for each round and introducing needed.
prizes or forfeits for the fastest and slowest pairs.
PETS ARE PEOPLE TOO! A 50 minute class may not be enough time to
thoroughly finish all exercises. Some of the pair
discussions may be assigned as homework and
discussed during the following class.
ORDERING FOOD
Difficulty Level: Basic Conversation
Activity Objective:
To review previous information, to gather information Target Group: All grades
from a partner through interviewing, and to discuss
opinions with a partner Difficulty Level:
Basic Conversation
Students’ Tasks:
Exercise 1 (review): students listen to a short passage Activity Objective:
and then answer T/F questions about it. Exercise 2 The ultimate goal of this lesson is to enable students
to order food in English in a familiar setting. Ideally, the menu would be something that the
Teacher’s Tasks students are familiar with, but is from the teacher’s
1. The teacher will be responsible for preparing the home country (as in the example, New Zealand
worksheets, creating the menu, eliciting answers McDonalds Menu). If it is a low level class, it'd be a
from each group and ask the students (or each good idea to get the students to practice repeating the
other) questions about the foods. E.g. Have you conversation after the teachers, before working in
eaten this before? Begin with a warm up activity: pairs.
Divide students into groups of 4-5 students. Give
students 1 minute to write down as many English ABOUT MY CULTURE
food names as possible. Ask groups to read out
their list to the class, and write the food names on
the board. The group with the most items wins.
Next, explain to the students that we will be
practicing how to order food from a menu. Give
each student a menu, and a script sheet. Explain
unfamiliar items on the menu. Give a
demonstration role play using the worksheets.
2. The teacher will be the waiter, while the other
students will be the customer. As the conversation
progresses, the waiter chooses several items off Target Group: All grades
the menu and will take notes, writing down what
was ordered and its price. At the end, the teacher Difficulty Level:
will repeat everything that was ordered and tell the Basic Conversation
other students how much the final cost is. Now it
is the students turn to practice in pairs. Once Activity Objective:
students have finished, they can change pairs.
To practice explaining cultural icons to English
Once the students have completed the exercise a
speaking foreigners
few times, they can try it without taking notes.
Teacher’s Tasks
This activity is to teach students how to explain the
significance of items that are special to Philippine
culture. After learning relevant vocabulary (e.g.
culture, custom, luck, tradition, etc.), the class will
brainstorm items/professions/people/etc that are
important to Philippine culture (e.g. rice, tourists
spots, etc.) and write them on the chalkboard. Then
groups of 3-4 students will choose 5 items and write
them on their paper. For each item, the group will
write one sentence describing why the item is
important (Ex: Rice is important in Philippines
1 Lined and numbered worksheet per group for the because we eat it every day.) The group will then
warm up activity. Students will use this to write down choose one item and expand the explanation to several
food names in English. 1 Practice script and 1 Menu sentences. Finally, the group will present their object
for each student. Students will use these to practice (or a picture of their object) to the class and explains
ordering food in their pairs. Whiteboard or why it is important to Filipino culture.
Blackboard for writing answers from the warm up.
The Teacher will be responsible for preparing the
Suggestions and Advice: materials, directing the activity, writing examples and
This activity will run more smoothly if the teacher has brainstormed items on the chalkboard, showing
prepared questions about the categories to be included examples, and facilitating English conversation in the
in the activity. For example, “'Have you tried (food classroom. He/she would assist in teaching the
name) before?” or “Do you like (food name) ?” activity and making sure the students understood what
would be required of them, helping with translations As to their level of anxiety, it was also revealed in the
(when necessary), and assisting students with the study that most of the students have difficulty when
activity. the teacher gives a speaking activity requiring mental
adeptness such as debate. Moreover, they also display
Materials and Preparation: hesitation when speaking before a crowd because of
their fear of being corrected in front of everybody as
revealed by the respondents.
The Grade 9 students MPS for the Second Grading

Period for School Year 2017-2019 reached only a
rating of 75%.
On the significant relationship between the

respondents’ MPS and the attitude towards English,
the way that students think and behave towards
English language whether positive or negative is
Worksheet with directions, example, and place to
highly correlated to their academic performance. On
write sentences (Teacher prepares before class and
the significant relationship between respondents MPS
prints enough for each student to have one.)
and level of anxiety, the P-value of 0.310 failed to
English/Filipino dictionaries (to help students look up
reject the null hypothesis; therefore there is no
unfamiliar vocabulary) Realia (examples of objects
significant relationship between anxiety level on their
that the students can describe, if needed).
academic performance. On the significant relationship
between students’ attitude and level of anxiety, the P-
value of 0.800 failed to reject the null hypothesis.
First, know your students' English level. If the level of
Based on the findings of the study, there is a need to
English of your students is low, you can consider this
come up with speaking strategies to provide an
lesson with your Grade 9 students, but I believe that
avenue where students can be most apprehensive.
this could be done at any level if modified. If students
However, because the macro skills are
are struggling, more examples might help. Sentence
complementary, other skills also need to be addressed.
patterns are very helpful here. If students have a
known grammatical pattern to follow, they are more
Conclusion
comfortable with the activity.
On the basis of the aforementioned findings, the
following conclusions were drawn:
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The findings revealed that students performed
This chapter presents the summary of findings,
averagely in terms of their academic performance in
conclusions and recommendations of the study.
English; however, they are most challenged when
asked to do speaking-related activities most especially
Findings
those that require them to showcase sharp wittedness
Based on the data gathered the following findings
because of their lack of interest in English as an
were drawn:
academic subject. It can be inferred that the student-
respondents lack language proficiency necessary to
The findings revealed that the grade 9 students who
understand the subject content. When students have
participated in this study generally have negative
learning barriers, these impede academic success. The
attitude towards English as a subject, which obtained
learning barrier may also have something to do with
the highest rank 3.11. The results revealed that they
their deficiency on the language rules needed in order
disliked English as a subject because they find it
for them to understand the subject. Likewise, it can be
difficult to express themselves using the language as a
medium for communication. Moreover, on the inferred from the study that students who were more
anxious are less willing to participate in learning
statement “I have heard of the phrase Filipino-
activities.
English” got the lowest rank 2.12 which means they
were unaware or they do not have an idea of Filipino-
English phrase.
The language anxiety of the students can be attributed positive effects on students’ performance with respect
to many factors but mostly, based from the study, it to their academic engagements.
can be inferred that productivity of students is
hampered in terms of their performance in English It is suggested that the intervention strategies
because of the many factors surrounding the language proposed in this study be utilized by the language
which includes: being fearful of making mistakes, teachers to minimize if not eradicate problems of
gaining criticism as a result of the mistakes, their anxiety in the classroom.
limited capacity to express themselves, and their
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APPENDIX C
Attitude of High School Students of Felisberto Verano National High School towards English
Dear Respondents. This questionnaire is prepared to collect data for a research and will take approximately 15
minutes to finish. This part is concerned with your attitude towards English language and the other part is
concerned with your reactions in English class activities. Please be assured that your identity is completely
confidential.
The instrument used was the standardized questionnaire of Alessia Occhipinti (2009). The questionnaire has
10-item questions using a 5- point Likert scale ranging from 1- strongly agree, 2- disagree, 3 - undecided, 4 -
agree to 5- strongly disagree.
Direction: In this section please read each of the following statements carefully; then check the box that best
represents the level of your agreement to the statement.
Level of Agreement
1= strongly agree
2= agree
3= undecided
4= agree
5= strongly disagree
Students’ Attitude Towards English Language 1 2 3 4 5

1. English is an International Language
2. English is the language used most widely in the world
3. Knowing English
Is important in understanding people from the countries.
4. I do not like learning English.
5. The non-native English speakers can also speak Standard English.
6. I have heard of the phrase “World Englishes.”
7. I have heard of the phrase “Filipino English”
8. When I speak English, I want to sound like a English speaker.
9. When I speak English, I want to be identified clearly as Filipino.
10. I am not confident in speaking English because of my accent.
APPENDIX D
Students Reactions to in-Class Activities
The second questionnaire has 25-item questions using a 5- point Likert scale ranging from 1- very relaxed, 2-
moderately relaxed, 3 - anxious, 4 - moderately anxious to 5- very anxious. This questionnaire checklist is
standardized based on Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope (1986) as cited by Vahid (2011) The english version of
Foreign language classroom attitude scale.
Direction: In this section please read each of the following statements carefully; then check the box that best
represents the level of your agreement to the statement.
1=Very Relaxed
2= Moderately Relaxed
3= Anxious
4= Moderately Anxious
5= Very Anxious
Students Reactions to in-Class Reactions 1 2 3 4 5
1 I would feel more confident about speaking in class if we practiced more.
I would feel less self-conscious about speaking in class in front of others if I knew
2
them better.
3 I feel very relaxed in class when I have studied a great deal the night before.
4 I am less anxious in class when I am not the only person answering a question.
I think I can speak the English language pretty well, but when I know I am being
5
graded, I mess up
I would be more willing to volunteer answers in class if I weren’t so afraid of saying
6
the wrong thing.
7 I enjoy class when we work in pairs
8 I feel more comfortable in class when I don’t have to get in front of the class.
9 I would enjoy class if we weren’t corrected at all in class.
10 I am more willing to speak in class when we discuss current events.
I would get less upset about my class if we did not have to cover so much material in
11
such a short period of time.
12 I enjoy class when we do skits in class.
13 I would feel better about speaking in class if the class were smaller.
14 I feel comfortable in class when I come to class prepared.
15 I am more willing to speak in class when we have a debate scheduled.
16 I am less anxious in class when I am not the only person answering a question.
17 I like going to class when we are going to role play situations.
I would not be so self-conscious about speaking in class if it were commonly
18 understood that everyone makes mistakes and it were not such a big deal to make a
mistake.
I prefer to be allowed to volunteer an answer instead of being called on to give an
19
answer.
20 I am more willing to participate in class when the topics we discuss are interesting.
I would be less nervous about taking an oral test in the English class if I got more
21
practice speaking in class.
22 I enjoy writing my journal and reflection when I can work with another student.
23 I would feel uncomfortable if the instructor never corrected our mistakes in class.
24 I feel uneasy when my fellow students are asked to correct my mistakes in class.
25 I feel confident when I write sentence essays and reflection papers

The Impact of Students' Attitude Towards English Language On Academic Achievement

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International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)

International Open Access Journal | www.ijtsrd.com

ISSN No: 2456 - 6470 | Volume - 3 | Issue – 1 | Nov – Dec 2018

The Impact of Students’ Attitude Towards English Language on

Figure1. Schematic Diagram of the Study

In the study conduct by Capulet, et al. (2013 ) on the RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Figure2. Map of the Research Locale

WHO/WHAT AM I? A WARM UP ACTIVITY

Target Group: All grades

Materials and Preparation:

Target Group: All grades

Teacher’s tasks: Students’ Task:

Exercise 3 (discussion): students first write their

Materials and Preparation:

No materials required. The words to be used simply

Target Group: All grades

Difficulty Level: Basic Conversation

The Grade 9 students MPS for the Second Grading

On the significant relationship between the

Students’ Attitude Towards English Language 1 2 3 4 5

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